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Compounds and Cleaning · Compound · Acetic acid, clean and preserve

Vinegar

Dilute acetic acid. A cleaner, descaler, deodorizer, weed killer, and food acidulant, all from one inexpensive bottle of about five percent acid.

INDEFINITEMULTI-USEWorks without power

Quick facts

Strength
~5% acetic acid
Form
Clear liquid
Hazard class
Mild acid
Shelf life
Indefinite
Storage
Sealed glass or HDPE
What to avoid
Metal containers

See everything vinegar must never touch

What it's good for

Cleaning

All-purpose and descaler

Mold & mildew

Kills surface mold

Garden

Weed killer and deterrent

Food & body

Pickling and rinses

About five percent acetic acid, enough to cut scale, soap film, and many microbes, though it can etch stone and metal.

Good to know

Mild by design. Vinegar is a weak acid, meaning only a fraction of its molecules split apart at once, so it nibbles steadily at scale and soap film rather than attacking like a strong acid. That mildness is also a limit: it loosens grime and handles everyday bacteria and mildew but is not a hospital-grade disinfectant and will not reliably kill tougher germs like norovirus.

Handling and safety

Not on stone or metal

Its acid etches marble, granite, and some metals; skip those surfaces.

Weak on deep mold

It handles surface mildew but not deep mold in porous materials.

Cheap and food-safe

Plain 5% white vinegar is non-toxic and works for most jobs.

30% for tough weeds

Plain 5% kills seedlings; corrosive 30% vinegar (Recipe 13.6) burns down established weeds, not their roots.

Eight jobs it does

  • Clean and disinfect surfaces
  • Pickling and ferments
  • Pest control for ants and weeds
  • Mild wound and athlete's foot soak
  • Descale kettles, pots, and pipes
  • Rust removal (soak undiluted)
  • Odor and skunk neutralizer
  • Laundry softener and hair rinse

If it goes bad Very stable. May cloud or sediment over years. Still safe and effective.

Field notes

Which vinegar I stock. White vinegar. It keeps its acidity where some other vinegars can fade, it is clear so it will not stain surfaces, clothes, or containers, and it is usually the cheapest type and sold in large quantities.

With baking soda. The acid and the base neutralize each other into carbon dioxide and water. The fizz lifts dirt and stains, including on clothes and carpet.

In the kitchen. Vinegar tenderizes meat and acts as a leavening agent in baking.

In the garden. It cleans garden tools. Aim carefully, because it also harms wanted plants and beneficial insects.

Shelf-stable pickles. Vegetables pickled in vinegar keep for months without refrigeration.

  • Use white or apple cider vinegar of at least 5% acidity.
  • Wash and cut fresh produce. Cucumbers can go in whole.
  • Boil a brine of vinegar, water, and salt, plus any sugar or spices, then cool it.
  • Pack sterilized jars, cover the vegetables completely with brine, and leave headspace.
  • Wipe the rims, seal with sterilized lids and rings, then process in a boiling water bath for the time your recipe and jar size require.
  • Store cool and dark so the flavor develops before you open a jar.

Good picks: cucumbers, onions, carrots, cauliflower, green beans, peppers, apples, and pears.

My pick: white vinegar on Amazon.

Recipes for vinegar

Questions this answers

Tap a question for the short answer.

What is vinegar used for?

Vinegar, at about 5% acetic acid, cleans and descales, kills surface mold and mildew, pickles food, removes rust when used undiluted, neutralizes odors, softens laundry, and controls ants and weed seedlings. It also serves as a mild wound and athlete's foot soak. Keep it off stone and some metals, which it etches.

How long does vinegar last in storage?

Vinegar keeps indefinitely and is very stable. Over the years it may turn cloudy or drop some sediment, but it remains safe and effective.

How do I store vinegar?

Keep vinegar in sealed glass or HDPE and avoid metal containers, since its acid can etch some metals. Stored that way it lasts indefinitely, and any clouding or sediment that shows up over the years does not affect its safety or strength.

Keep going

Read nextUnclog and deodorize drains (baking soda and vinegar)Drain odor comes from hydrogen sulfide and other acidic sulfur compounds produced by bacteria feeding on organic debris inside the pipe.Hygiene and Sanitation · Formula

Related to this

Compounds and Cleaning · Formula Mold and mildew cleaner (vinegar) Undiluted white vinegar kills many common molds on hard surfaces without the toxic fumes of bleach, though its effectiveness varies by species. Handle with care Compounds and Cleaning · Reference Degrease, descale, disinfect: match the cleaner to the job Grease needs an alkali, scale needs an acid, germs need an oxidizer or antiseptic. Never mix across families. Garden and Livestock · Formula Weed killer for paths and driveways (vinegar) Young weeds: 5% vinegar; Established: 20%+ vinegar; Best: hot, dry day Handle with care Compounds and Cleaning · Supply Turpentine vs. mineral spirits Both last several years tightly sealed, away from heat, sunlight and open flames
Everything in Compounds and CleaningNever-mix checkerShelf life tableFind a recipe by needWalk-around auditStart here

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Compounds and Cleaning · CompoundSource: Prepper's Chemical Survival Guide, Chapter 13, p. 76 · Last reviewed 2026-09-18

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